Welcome to our
2026 Sacramental Programme Information Page
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Sacraments of Initiation – Sevenhill Parish
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In Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion, we come to share in the life of Jesus, the Beloved Son of God. We become members of His Body and we are welcomed into the family of the Church. Our local parish is our local Church family where we are called to support one another in our ongoing journey of faith, hope and love. For this reason, the usual practice is for Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion to take place in the parish where you reside.
Adults
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Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation are offered to adults each Easter. Furthermore, adults who have been baptised in another Christian Church are also received into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
The Parish Priest and parish volunteers meet regularly with adults who are interested in the sacraments of initiation. Formal blessings and prayers take place in the context of the RCIA journey, especially during the time before Advent and during the season of Lent.
The sacraments of initiation can also be offered to adults on other occasions, including in the context of marriage preparation.
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Information about the RCIA journey is available at
Catholic Enquiry Centre:
https://www.becoming.catholic.au/s/article/Becoming-Catholic-First-Steps Archdiocese of Sydney: https://rcia.org.au/ Archdiocese of Adelaide: https://adelaide.catholic.org.au/our-faith/becoming-a-catholic
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Laetare Sunday Mass (Fourth Sunday of Lent), St Michael’s Church, Clare.
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Infants, Children and Teenagers
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Infants
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At baptism, parents commit to being the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith. After an infant is baptised, this prayer for the journey ahead is offered for the newly baptised child: “In confirmation, he/she will receive the fullness of God’s Spirit. In holy communion, he/she will share the banquet of Christ’s sacrifice, calling God his/her Father in the midst of the Church….” For children baptised as infants, the journey of growing in faith, hope and love continues in the ongoing life of our parish. We especially invite families to join us at our monthly 9AM Family Mass at St Michael’s Church in Clare on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
Children at St Joseph’s School and Other Schools in Our Parish
Our Parish Priest, volunteers and St Joseph’s School staff work together to support families in our Children’s Sacramental Programme. First Reconciliation is offered in Year 3, followed by Confirmation and First Holy Communion in Year 4. The journey toward full initiation into the Church includes family formation meetings and liturgies in our parish and a Confirmation Retreat Day at Sevenhill. For St Joseph’s School students, formation is offered at school in the context of the Crossways Religious Education curriculum framework. For students at other schools in our parish, formation is offered at families meetings with the Parish Priest and parish volunteers during each year.
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Children who have not been baptised as babies or toddlers are also welcome to receive baptism in our parish.
For children in Years 3 or 4, this generally takes place on a Sunday in the context of our Children’s Sacramental Programme. Celebrating baptism in this context supports these children’s ongoing faith journey by providing them with the opportunity to move toward reception of Confirmation and First Holy Communion alongside their peers.
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Teenagers
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Teenagers who have been baptised as children are welcome to receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion either at Easter or alongside younger children in our Sacramental Programme, with the support of their families. Teenagers who have not been baptised are welcome to receive all three sacraments of initiation together at Easter, when Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead is celebrated at the most significant time in the liturgical year. The Easter Vigil is a meaningful ritual which begins with the blessing of the fire and the Paschal Candle in the dark of night, followed by the procession inside the church building. The reception of the sacraments of initiation at Easter provides a meaningful experience of initiation in the context of the church’s rich liturgical tradition.
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Baptism St Aloysius Church, Sevenhill
